7 Common Dental Problems

Poor dental hygiene, poor diet, lack of regular dental check-ups, and dental trauma are key factors behind poor dental health. These issues cause damage to the teeth, gum disease, jawbone, and other parts of the mouth. For instance, poor dental hygiene can lead to a build-up of plaque and bacteria deposits in the mouth. Over time, these deposits erode the teeth’ enamel and gum tissues, leading to tooth decay and gum disease.

Most common problems associated with teeth and gums

Good oral hygiene, regular dental assessments, and a proper diet can help prevent oral problems. Learning about common dental problems and their causes, symptoms, and treatment can help you maintain excellent oral health. Let’s look at the 7 most common problems associated with teeth and gums.

• Toothache and sensitivity

Tooth pain and sensitivity indicate that all is not well. Tooth pain or sensitivity is often a symptom of tooth decay, gum disease, damaged fillings, or exposed tooth nerves or roots. Seeking treatment is essential to determine the underlying problem and prevent further complications. Depending on the underlying issues, the dentist can recommend treatments like root canals, fillings, gum, or dental crowns.

• Swelling or abscess

If you’ve noticed a pus-filled pimple or swelling around a specific painful or sensitive tooth, it could signify you have a serious infection. You should seek immediate treatment as the infection can spread, damaging other parts of the mouth and body. Sometimes these symptoms are accompanied by bad breath and fever. You’ll get antibiotics and other treatments to manage your symptoms.

• Teeth stains or discoloration

After years of taking highly pigmented and acidic food items like coffee, tea, soda, sauces, apple cider vinegar, and wine, your teeth can appear dull or stained. Teeth stains can also be caused by dental trauma, tooth decay, gum disease, certain medications, tobacco, and old age. When your teeth are stained, you can consult our best dentist near you about teeth whitening or bleaching. If the stains don’t respond to teeth whitening, the dentist can suggest alternative treatments like dental veneers, crowns, and bonding.

• Cavities

Cavities are the main concern among millions of adults and children globally. Poor dental hygiene and diet can encourage plaque, bacteria, and tartar buildup in the mouth. Over time, these deposits damage the tooth’s enamel, causing small holes or cavities. If not treated timely, the cavities will continue to deepen, leading to further damage.

When the tooth’s pulp is exposed, the bacteria can infect the tooth’s blood vessels and nerves, leading to decay and further cavities. You can address cavities with a dental filling. Deep cavities or decay require more extensive treatments like root canal treatment and dental crowns. The dentist might recommend a tooth extraction if the tooth is extremely damaged. Fortunately, you can avoid to0oth decay and cavities through good oral hygiene and a proper diet.

• Chipped, broken, or cracked tooth

Sometimes, you can crack, chip, or break your tooth from sports accidents or when biting on hard items like ice. When your tooth is damaged, it’s important to seek treatment as soon as possible to prevent further damage. The damage can worsen when not addressed on time, causing severe pain, sensitivity, and decay. Eventually, you may lose your tooth. Common tooth chips, cracks, and breaks treatments include dental filling, bonding, veneers, root canal, and crowns. You should get it pulled out if the tooth is severely damaged.

• Crooked, overcrowded, or impacted teeth

Crooked or overcrowded teeth can cause pain, tooth damage, poor bite, and make you vulnerable to plaque and cavities. Our vineyard dentist can suggest orthodontic treatments such as braces and Invisalign to fix these issues. The dentist can recommend tooth extraction if your teeth are crowded or impacted.

• Gum disease

Like cavities, gum disease is mainly caused by poor dental hygiene. When you don’t clean your mouth well, debris combines with harmful bacteria in the mouth, forming plaque and tartar. These deposits irritate and infect the gum tissues, causing inflammation or gum disease. Signs of gum disease include gum swelling, redness, sensitivity, loose teeth, and abscess.

You should treat gum disease early before it progresses to severe stages like periodontitis. Common treatments for gum disease include good oral hygiene, regular dental exam and cleanings, scaling and root planning, antibiotics, and gum surgery.

Schedule an appointment

Do you need dental treatment for any of the above dental problems? Schedule an online dentist appointment at Edgartown Dental Group to speak with our Martha’s Vineyard dentist.